Yarmouk

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Yarmouk: Uprising

Uprising

BBC Radio 4 - Yarmouk, Uprising

The Syrian uprising turns increasingly violent as the Government cracks down on protest.

As the Syrian Government cracks down on protests, the popular uprising begins to turn into full scale civil war.

Hatem was among the young people in Syria who joined the protests to help bring about a better future but who soon find themselves, gun in hand, fighting in a war. His friends try to dissuade him. All of them must find a way to live through the extraordinary turmoil of an uprising that is turning into a civil war.

Set in Yarmouk Camp, an area of Damascus initially established as a Palestinian refugee camp but which, by the start of the Syrian uprising in 2011, is a thriving multi-cultural part of the city. 

In this second of three episodes we see escalating violence as the Government crack down on any dissent and the Free Syrian Army is established in response. 

Writer Ghassan Zakarya lived through the uprising before being forced to leave, claiming asylum in France. The production was recorded in London with a Syrian and Palestinian cast, some of whom were established actors in Syria before fleeing the war,  arriving here as refugees after perilous journeys.

Yarmouk takes us inside an extraordinary story, giving an authentic and personal view of the catastrophic events that have taken place there - not only do we see the effect on normal people but also the consequences for the very identity of Syria as a country. 

Cast:
Hatem ..... Osama el Azzeh
Salma ..... Sofia Asir
Khaled ..... Ammar Haj Ahmad
Rania ..... Arwa Omaren
Nasser ..... Nayef Rashed
Fatima ..... Alia Alzougbi
Masoud ..... Joe Haddad
Omar ..... Zaydun Khalaf
Checkpoint Commander ..... Baraa Halabieh
Other parts played by members of the cast

Written by Ghassan Zakarya

Music, Rihab Azar
Script Editor  Jonathan Myerson
Sound Design, Alisdair McGregor
Producer and Director, Boz Temple-Morris

A Holy Mountain production for BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Drama: War & Disaster

The story of the Syrian uprising seen through the eyes of young people in Damascus.

Seen from the perspective of young people in Damascus, Ghassan Zakarya's three-part drama tells the story of the Syrian uprising and how it turned into a civil war.

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